[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 28 (Wednesday, February 11, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7700-7701]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-02827]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900-0621]


Agency Information Collection (National Practioner Data Bank 
(NPDB) Regulations) Activities: Under OMB Review

AGENCY: Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 
(44 U.S.C. 3501-3521), this notice announces that the Veterans Health 
Administration (VHA), Department of Veterans Affairs, will submit the 
collection of information abstracted below to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The PRA submission describes 
the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and 
burden and includes the actual data collection instrument.

DATES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposed collection 
of information should be received on or before March 13, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the collection of information 
through www.Regulations.gov, or to Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Attn: VA Desk Officer; 725 
17th St. NW., Washington, DC 20503 or sent through electronic mail to 
[email protected]. Please refer to ``OMB Control No. 2900-
0621 (National Practioner Data Bank (NPDB) Regulations)'' in any 
correspondence. During the comment period, comments may be viewed 
online through the FDMS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Crystal Rennie, Enterprise Records 
Service (005R1B), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue 
NW., Washington, DC 20420, (202) 632-7492 or email 
[email protected]. Please refer to ``OMB Control No. 2900-
0621(National Practioner Data Bank (NPDB) Regulations)'' in any 
correspondence.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13; 44 
U.S.C. 3501-3521), Federal agencies must obtain approval from the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of 
information they conduct or sponsor. This request for comment is being 
made pursuant to Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA.
    With respect to the following collection of information, VHA 
invites comments on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information 
is necessary for the proper performance of VHA's functions, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy 
of VHA's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of 
the collection of information on respondents, including through the use 
of automated collection techniques or the use of other forms of 
information technology.
    Title: National Practioner Data Bank (NPDB) Regulations.
    OMB Control Number: 2900-0621.
    Type of Review: Revision of an approved collection.
    Abstract: Under the provisions of the Health Care Quality 
Improvement Act of 1986, which established the National Practitioner 
Data Bank (NPDB), and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Health and 
Human Services (HHS), VA medical treatment facilities are required to 
query the NPDB at the time of initial appointment for all licensed, 
registered, and certified health care professionals which is followed 
with the enrollment in the NPDB Continuous Query (CQ) process with 
annual renewal of all licensed independent practitioners appointed to a 
VA medical treatment facility. In accordance with 38 CFR, Chapter 1, 
Part 46, information is collected so that VA can consider if 
malpractice payments were made related to substandard care, 
professional incompetence, or professional misconduct on the part of a 
licensed health care practitioner or if any adjudicated adverse action 
was taken against the licensure or clinical privileges of a these 
health care practitioner.
    Additionally, complete and thorough credentialing is required to 
assure that only qualified healthcare professionals provide care to our 
Nation's veterans. The term credentialing refers to the systematic 
process of screening and evaluating qualifications and other 
credentials, including licensure, required education, relevant training 
and experience, current competence and health status.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number. The Federal Register Notice with a 
60-day comment period soliciting comments on this collection of 
information was published at 79 FR 70616, on November 26, 2015.
    Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 2,500 burden hours.
    Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 5 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: Annually.

[[Page 7701]]

    Estimated Number of Respondents: 500.

    Dated: February 6, 2015.

    By direction of the Secretary.
Crystal Rennie,
VA Clearance Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2015-02827 Filed 2-10-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P